Build me a C2

[Fasglas]

Not a fan of side exhaust, though the sound is hard to beat.

Might take a look at:

Corvette Chambered Exhaust Kit, Small Block, Stainless Steel, With 2-1/2 Exhaust Manifold, 1964-1967



Seems well within your budget.

[CertInsaneC5]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

Clark, I'm afraid with you plan and a cap of $5K will just leave you with a different cobbled up mess. Your money cap will perhaps take you only 40% of the way there.

Specifically, if I were to do side pipes, use the original kind. They give the perfect look to the car, and it's not completely true than you can't have a conversation or listen to the radio with them. You do get used to them; besides you can simply roll up the windows until you get used to the sound. I have never smelled exhaust with mine. Just remember that you have to cut your body to install them.

Kerrmudgeon is right about the nuisance of a lopey engine: It turns a good-driving car into a hard to handle beast. I agree that your current engine shouldn't be changed. My guess is that you make only $5K worth of changes you might increase HP by 50. That's just not worth it. And I wouldn't put 2X or 3X that into the car since you'll never get that money back.

This. ^^^^^

[Sea Six]

I'd hate to cut the body up to put in side exhaust.

What's the biggest exhaust diameter I can safely put through the factory exhaust holes in the rear?

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

Clark, I'm afraid with you plan and a cap of $5K will just leave you with a different cobbled up mess. Your money cap will perhaps take you only 40% of the way there.

Specifically, if I were to do side pipes, use the original kind. They give the perfect look to the car, and it's not completely true than you can't have a conversation or listen to the radio with them. You do get used to them; besides you can simply roll up the windows until you get used to the sound. I have never smelled exhaust with mine. Just remember that you have to cut your body to install them.

Kerrmudgeon is right about the nuisance of a lopey engine: It turns a good-driving car into a hard to handle beast. I agree that your current engine shouldn't be changed. My guess is that you make only $5K worth of changes you might increase HP by 50. That's just not worth it. And I wouldn't put 2X or 3X that into the car since you'll never get that money back.

I'm not trying to get X amount of horsepower gain.

I just want to put new life and new interest in the car to the point where I'll keep it and drive it a few more years. Basically make it have a great sounding exhaust note, for a few $K.

Since it already has headers and a ZZ4 and, *needs* a new exhaust system already IMHO, I'm wondering what I can do for a few $K and get something more interesting to me.

This thing ain't ever going anywhere near a track. Ever. Prolly won't care enough about hp increase to even pay someone to dyno it.

Basically I wanna be a middle-aged, overweight, balding, white guy wannabe muscle car owner poser who stopped spending money after he got a bad-assed sounding car that already looked pretty danged good.

You know the type... the kind of corvette owner that gives you a blank stare when asked what rear end is on the car presently.

[CertInsaneC5]

Then just take the mufflers off and be done with it.

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

I'd hate to cut the body up to put in side exhaust.

What's the biggest exhaust diameter I can safely put through the factory exhaust holes in the rear?

The body cutting isn't severe but it will have to be done with stock side pipes. I like the idea of chambered pipes under the car. Don't waste your time with N11 mufflers; they produce no sound difference. I don't think you need an increased exhaust size since even stock mufflers are not restrictive.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

I'm not trying to get X amount of horsepower gain.

I just want to put new life and new interest in the car to the point where I'll keep it and drive it a few more years. Basically make it have a great sounding exhaust note, for a few $K.

Since it already has headers and a ZZ4 and, *needs* a new exhaust system already IMHO, I'm wondering what I can do for a few $K and get something more interesting to me.

This thing ain't ever going anywhere near a track. Ever. Prolly won't care enough about hp increase to even pay someone to dyno it.

Basically I wanna be a middle-aged, overweight, balding, white guy wannabe muscle car owner poser who stopped spending money after he got a bad-assed sounding car that already looked pretty danged good.

You know the type... the kind of corvette owner that gives you a blank stare when asked what rear end is on the car presently.

Physically I resemble your comments above, but there is NOTHING STOCK about my car, not ONE aspect of it, it's a hobby car, sounds like you don't want to do anything yourself, so my advice is somewhat limited in effectiveness.....

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by Fasglas

Not a fan of side exhaust, though the sound is hard to beat.

Might take a look at:

Corvette Chambered Exhaust Kit, Small Block, Stainless Steel, With 2-1/2 Exhaust Manifold, 1964-1967



Seems well within your budget.

Is this the whole exhaust system including mufflers?

And will these work with the existing rear exhaust hole cutouts?

[Sea Six]

How do I find out what rear end is on the car now? As in what kind of hp/torque it can handle, ratio, etc.

[DAB]

i've never had an exhaust worth $5,000.

some have been termed priceless, others worthless, but none valued at $5,000.

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by DAB

i've never had an exhaust worth $5,000.

some have been termed priceless, others worthless, but none valued at $5,000.

Yes, but add in a slightly lopier cam for a cooler sound, installation (do you gotta remove the engine to change out the cam?), tires, and whatdya get up to?

[Sea Six]

*tyres

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Yes, but add in a slightly lopier cam for a cooler sound, installation (do you gotta remove the engine to change out the cam?), tires, and whatdya get up to?

Jack up the rear, chock the front wheels, and in neutral.....take some chaulk/marker with you under there, mark the drive shaft and both rear wheels....I always do it on the bottom, square up.....turn the shaft and watch the wheels you should have posi so both wheels turnat same rate, very carefully count the revs of the driveshaft...and as the wheels get close to square up position again you need count the % of travel it takes to get the wheels in position.....

so suppose like me a 336 rear which was stock for my car with the Muncie in it...I have a 200 4r for the overdrive.....at any rate, the shaft turns 3x and the wheels are almost square, up, so how much % more rotation you need to square them up....simple....1/3 of a rev more is .36 50% more is .55 etc.....



generally NO on engine removal, but you do pull the entire accessory crap, fans, pumps, balancer, radiator, any aux coolers, and loosen the A/C condenser to you get just enough length to get the cam out....that works on my '72....no guarantees on your C2

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Is this the whole exhaust system including mufflers?

And will these work with the existing rear exhaust hole cutouts?

There are no mufflers in a chambered exhaust. They're designed and look like what a side pipe is under the pretty cover. Having the exhaust go out the rear cuts the noise considerably.

I think the messing with the cam just for engine sound is overkill. The chambered exhaust will sound like a mild cam.

[Fasglas]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

There are no mufflers in a chambered exhaust. They're designed and look like what a side pipe is under the pretty cover. Having the exhaust go out the rear cuts the noise considerably.

I think the messing with the cam just for engine sound is overkill. The chambered exhaust will sound like a mild cam.

Do the exhaust, and it should deliver what you seem to be looking for, PLUS, you'll be $$$ ahead.

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by lspencer534

There are no mufflers in a chambered exhaust. They're designed and look like what a side pipe is under the pretty cover. Having the exhaust go out the rear cuts the noise considerably.

I think the messing with the cam just for engine sound is overkill. The chambered exhaust will sound like a mild cam.

Is it going to be street legal?

And can you hold a conversation inside the car with the top up and driving around town?

[Grey Ghost]

The guy that bought my '65 had a speed shop build him a solid lifter motor for it. The correct cast # block, all shielding, cam, etc...It upped the car value $6k IMHO. I don't know what he had to spend for the rebuild or if he already had the correct block. I think my last motor build was in the $2500 range 15yrs. ago. So you might add a touch of value after it is all said and done or it comes out near a wash.

Factory side exhaust only came from St. Louis built cars - not AO Smith built cars. You can add it without much cutting - someone added it to my '66. There is also a proper 'factory' way of doing it or making it work like on my '66. It ad the factory looking exhaust. There was a company (Allen's side exhaust) or something that made options for how loud you wanted them to be. I imagine $2k or more to add them these days...?

Sell the ZZ4 for some cash. Sell it while it is in the car so people can hear it running, etc...Find a correct block, build a stout solid lifter motor, and have some fun would be my suggestion!

[Sea Six]

Per GM's website:

ZZ4 350 Small Block Crate Engine | Chevrolet

The ZZ4 350 crate engine is Chevrolet Performance’s original affordable crate engine. In Turn-Key form, it comes with everything you need to get it running in your project vehicle.

High-flow aluminum heads are the keys to the ZZ4’s robust 355 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. They boast 163-cc intake runners, raised exhaust ports, and tight, 58-cc combustion chambers that enhance compression and power. The heads feature 1.94/1.50-inch valves for efficient performance.

The rest of the ZZ4 350 is comprised of premium materials including a brand-new four-bolt block, forged steel crankshaft, high-silicon pistons, and a hydraulic roller camshaft.

It also includes an aluminum intake, Holley four-barrel carburetor, and HEI distributor, as well as a starter, water pump, fuel pump, and front-end accessory drive kit — including an air conditioning compressor, alternator, and more!

[lspencer534]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Is it going to be street legal?

And can you hold a conversation inside the car with the top up and driving around town?

It's as legal as side pipes, which when they were new were legal. I'm walking a fine line here, but under-the-car chambered exhaust is much quieter than side pipes. There are people who would argue with that, but I'd question their actual experience with them. My experience has been that once you're up to speed they're almost quiet. Even getting up t speed is quieter than side pipes.

Look at it like this: With side pipes the exhaust exits just a couple of feet from you ears. Rear exit adds several feet to that, and the noise doesn't bounce off walls like side pipes. Actually with rear exit your car is outrunning most of the rear noise.

[LATB]

If you want a nice exhaust note...

Get the 5.0 Mustang. I think they sound awesome.